A Leicester student has been crowned national champion of the prestigious English-Speaking Union's Performing Shakespeare Competition 2026. Adam Hadj Rabia, who attends Madani Boys School in Leicester, impressed judges with a powerful rendition of Shylock’s speech from The Merchant of Venice.
Competition Final at Shakespeare's Globe
The grand final took place at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Adam beat competition from over 150 schools and nearly 4,000 students across England and Wales who entered the contest this year. The audience enjoyed a day of drama with finalists delivering monologues and duologues, showcasing creative talent, confidence, and public speaking skills.
Building Communication Skills
Beyond celebrating Shakespeare, the competition builds communication skills and boosts self-esteem among young people. Bringing the top trophy to Leicester is a phenomenal achievement for Adam and Madani Boys School. The runner-up was Rufus Birge from Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School for his performance of Mark Antony from Julius Caesar. The Don Miller Audience Choice Award went to Emmeline Abbott, a Year 7 student from Windermere School, for her inventive performance as the three witches in Macbeth.
Judges Praise Performances
The judging panel included Lucy Cuthbertson, director of education (learning) at Shakespeare’s Globe; voice coach Carol Fairlamb; actor Colm Gormley; and Paul Roseby OBE, CEO and artistic director of the National Youth Theatre. Chair of judges Lucy Cuthbertson said: 'The standard of performance was really incredible. The young people here today showed such skill and stagecraft in terms of both using the space and how they used their vocal skills to really make us understand and connect us with the text. What we saw today was really top class.'
Speaking on the judges’ decision to award Adam first place, she said: 'The standards are very high, but this was a unanimous decision. We were really moved from the beginning by the connection that this young person had with the themes of the play, and how it speaks to them, to the world, and how they managed to get that authenticity into their performance.'
Adam's Motivation
Explaining why he chose his piece, Adam said: 'The questions that Shylock asks, about identity, dignity and equality are all questions we still struggle with today. We still see groups being pushed aside, prejudices being carried out and stereotypes being cycled through and justified. So, as I perform this speech I would like you to hear two voices at once: Shylock’s - wounded, proud, furious but human - and Shakespeare’s voice, asking us to look at ourselves, our society and the way we treat people we call “other”.'
Paul Roseby added: 'Communication skills, which is really what this competition is all about - making their story relatable to an audience, to an employer, to anybody - are essential. No matter what a young person is studying or what they want to do, if they can’t communicate what they want to do, they’re never going to do it. Without oracy, we have no future ambition, we have no future jobs. It’s the skill we all want.'
About the Competition
The ESU Performing Shakespeare Competition encourages students aged 11 to 14 to explore and appreciate Shakespeare's language, fostering a love for literature and performance. Each participant introduces their piece with a short speech, enhancing their public speaking and critical thinking skills. For more information about the English-Speaking Union, contact comms@esu.org or visit esu.org.
